The DJI RS 4 is a three-axis stabilizer that robotically tilts, pans, and rolls the mounted digicam to maintain it transferring easily and stage. You may as well set the gimbal to observe your hand actions in order that it pans and tilts easily between topics. Stabilisers (or gimbals) come is a variety of sizes (and costs). The DJI RS 4 matches into the professional part of the gimbal vary (reasonably than the smartphone gimbal part).
The DJI RS4 was launched in April 2024 alongside its costlier and higher-specced sibling – the DJI RS4 Professional. For extra skilled gimbal buy suggestions try information to the greatest gimbals for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
The significantly costlier DJI RS4 Professional is designed to slot in with DJI’s skilled movie-making ecosystem, so it features a 2nd-generation LiDAR focusing system and automobile mount. The RS 4 Professional additionally helps a wider vary {of professional} digicam and lens combos due to its 4.5 Kg payload, whereas the cheaper RS 4 helps mirrorless digicam and lens combos as much as a weight of 3kg.
Each variations of the RS 4 profit from advanced {hardware} and software program, reminiscent of Teflon-coated axis arms (extra on that later) and a 4th-Gen RS Stabilization Algorithm. The remainder of this evaluate will focus solely on the RS 4 equipment, testing the Combo equipment that comes with extra equipment such because the Focus Professional Motor, Briefcase Deal with, and Carrying Case. Should you’re within the DJI RS 4 Professional model you’ll be able to learn its 5 star evaluate right here.
DJI RS 4: Specs
| Weight: | 1.4 kg (3.0 lbs) |
| Dimensions: | 370×191×189 mm |
| Payload: | 3 kg (6.6 lbs) |
| Tilting Angle: | -112° to +214° |
| Rolling Angle: | -95° to +240° |
| Panning Angle: | 360° |
| Battery Life: | As much as 12 hours |
| Show: | 1.8″ OLED full-color touchscreen |
DJI RS 4: Design & Dealing with
I’ve examined 15 totally different gimbals for Digital Digicam World within the final two years. One difficulty that I’ve encountered with varied gimbals is a barely tilted horizon, even if you double-tap the set off to set the gimbal to its default place. The DJI RS 4 has a programmable dial on the entrance. You need to use the 1.8” OLED touchscreen to customise the dial to carry out quite a lot of strikes, reminiscent of working the rolling entry to counteract any horizontal tilt. Luckily, the RS 4 Professional didn’t require any horizontal tweaks, nevertheless it’s a welcome function to have this programmable dial.
One of many greatest challenges gimbal customers face is getting the digicam balanced on the gimbal’s roll, tilt and pan axis arms. If the digicam (and lens) isn’t balanced then the gimbal’s motors should work tougher (draining energy extra rapidly and shortening capturing time). An unbalanced digicam rig may trigger a gimbal’s arms to vibrate, and in worst-case eventualities, the gimbal will energy down to stop harm to its motors. The RS 4’s aluminum alloy axis arms have easy Teflon-coating, making it simpler so that you can slide them into an optimum balanced place. The lean arm advantages from an extra fine-tuning knob that makes it simpler to slip the arm backwards and forwards in tiny increments till excellent stability is attained.
One other welcome design contact is the choice to Auto Calibrate the digicam when you suppose it’s balanced. You’ll be able to set off this operation from the 1.8” OLED touchscreen on the purple of the RS 4. This causes the digicam to examine every motor and axis arm in flip to make sure optimum efficiency. We did encounter a problem with retaining the RS 4 balanced on an extended shoot which we’ll cowl within the Efficiency part.
When tapping the report button on a mirrorless digicam this may put stress on the axis arms of a gimbal and potential unbalance it. Luckily you’ll be able to join the RS 4 through Bluetooth to a supported digicam and set off a recording by tapping the gimbal’s bodily report button. On our check shoot we related the RS 4 to our Sony A7 MkIII through the gimbal’s provided quick USB-C to USB-C cable and triggered the recording through that bodily connection.
I additionally preferred the truth that I might change the gimbal’s mode between Pan Observe, Pan Tilt Observe and FPV through a bodily mode swap (which is simpler than swiping between modes on the OLED touchscreen.) This swap was tougher to entry after I’d hooked up the provided sling deal with to the gimbal, however that helpful accent enabled me to shoot low-angle clips with ease after which swing the gimbal up excessive for a crane shot.
The Combo equipment that I examined additionally provides a Focus Professional Motor which you could hook up with your digicam’s guide lens and regulate focus through the gimbal. It additionally accommodates a Ronin Picture Transmitter which lets you management the gimbal motion through a cell phone utilizing the Pressure Cell function within the DJI Ronin App.
DJI RS 4: Efficiency
Above video: see the DJI RS 4 in use
To check the DJI RS 4 I used it to movie a day lengthy convention. This concerned capturing highlights from the principle convention room adopted by recording actions in 8 separate workshops that had been working parallel with one another. I additionally needed to squeeze in some vox pop interviews with convention attendees! I used to be capturing with a Sony A7 Mk III mirrorless digicam with a Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III G2 lens . I additionally used a Rode Wi-fi Professional mic system. The RS4 has an prolonged tilt axis in contrast with the RS 3, which gave loads of area for me to mount the Rode receiver on the digicam’s shoe mount with out the receiver hitting the roll axis motor after I carried out a tilt. This additional area is a welcome design enchancment.
Historically I’d have used a tripod to movie a busy convention occasion, however with actions scattered throughout a big location, I used to be glad to have a lighter and easier-to-maneuver stabilizer. Plus a tripod would have obstructed the actions of the numerous convention attendees. The digicam stayed on the gimbal for many of the day so I used to be able to report something at any time. After I did have to detach the Alpha 7 to vary its battery, the RS4’s fast launch plate made it a doddle to take action. I might then re-attach the digicam through the quick-release plate, figuring out that it was nonetheless balanced on the RS 4. Due to the RS 4 I used to be in a position to report tripod-steady interviews with delegates in addition to capturing cinematic pans, tilts and monitoring pictures of the attractive convention location (see supporting video).
I did encounter one difficulty with the RS 4’s efficiency. On the gimbal’s LCD display screen a useful digicam icon signifies stability standing. After balancing the digicam on the gimbal firstly of the day (8-30am), the digicam icon was inexperienced. Because the shoot progressed I observed that the balancing icon would flip orange and ultimately purple, indicating that the digicam was now not balanced for optimum efficiency. I due to this fact needed to re-balance the digicam. I observed that solely the roll-axis was unbalanced. It had slowly slid from its authentic balanced place regardless of being locked. It took me some time to diagnose the reason for this difficulty. Once you energy down the gimbal the entire rig rotates right into a closed and locked place. The hooked up digicam additionally rotates with a clunk and I feel this repetitive clunking prompted the roll entry to slowly slide and change into unbalanced throughout the day. My digicam and lens set-up was just one.4kg however this weight would have been momentarily elevated by the digicam’s momentum every time the gimbal’s arms rotated into the closed/off place, the ensuing temporary hammering motion including stress on the roll arm’s locking mechanism. A number of opening and shutting actions could have prompted the arm to shift in tiny increments, resulting in a stability difficulty over an extended time period. As soon as I recognized that this as a problem it was a fast and simple matter to re-balance the roll axis and keep on capturing.
I loved utilizing the RS 4 to seize vox pops and carry out tracks, tilts, cranes and pans all through the period of the convention. Whereas filming between 0830 and 1700 the rig did get heavier throughout the day – or I received extra drained! Nonetheless regardless of the lengthy day the battery had 15% energy left in it so I used to be very I impressed with the RS 4’s efficiency and I received all of the footage that the shopper required.
DJI RS 4: Verdict
The RS 4 enabled me to sort out an extended shoot with out worrying in regards to the gimbal’s battery efficiency, so I captured all of the belongings that my shopper required. In addition to enabling traditional digicam strikes reminiscent of tilts, pans, tracks and cranes I used to be additionally in a position to shoot tripod-steady interviews with out the burden of lugging a tripod round. The mixed weight of the gimbal and payload was just below 3kg, so all the rig was mild sufficient to hold round and use all day. The slight sliding of the locked roll arm over an extended time period was my solely criticism and this was straightforward to rectify, nevertheless it does lose the RS 4 half a star.
| Options | Contact delicate OLED display screen plus bodily mode buttons and dial for tactile management | ★★★★☆ |
| Design | Auto locking and unlocking on axes with simpler to stability teflon coating. | ★★★★☆ |
| Efficiency | Battery life allows lengthy shoot, although balanced slipped over time. | ★★★☆☆ |
| Worth | Costly when in comparison with equally specced gimbals | ★★★☆☆ |
Ought to I purchase the DJI RS 4?:
✅ Purchase it…
- You should shoot for lengthy durations
- You’ve gotten a big or heavy payload
- You need a better balancing expertise
🚫 Do not buy it…
- You’ve gotten a payload a lot lighter than 3kg
- You might be on a finances
Alternate options
For a lighter-weight stabilization answer, see our guides to the greatest gimbals for smartphones, and the greatest gimbals for GoPros